Getting cold, the birch are pushing water down the center of the tree Was 26° this am, you can see it freezing as it runs out, making icicles Am told Alaska birch do this to get rid of excess water, Somehow they squeeze excess water out , gonna go thru -30° to - 40°, too much water & the tree is brittle & the break in wind storms.
Kinda a self-preservation thing. Keeps em from freezing and splitting wide open? I noticed that in your other post. while clearing for the garage 5-6 years ago, I cut in the spring. The water literally ran out of those trees while I cut them! I had heard about it but never experienced it until then.
Birch is very porous. In Scandinavia they give kids cut birch limbs dipped in soapy water, and they blow bubbles through the birch wood fibers! The structure is just like a bunch of tiny straws bundled together.
Thanks for posting this Dave. Another interesting thing to add to our knowledge. See, today is not a wasted day for anyone reading this thread as most of us have learned something new. I may do some experimenting this winter and cut a couple of birch and if I remember to do it, I'll cut some at various times depending upon the temperature to see if it happens here too.
Saw a nature show on Boreal forests in Canada & Alaska talked about how trees & critters prep for the super cold. Many things up here much different than in lower 48 Natures adaptions in different environments is amazing
Mmmmm, I think it looks like maybe a dog just came by and marked his territory... but seriously, it's interesting. I'm not familiar with birch, but it's weird you can't really see any growth rings.
LOL, Hard to see but you can see some growth rings , top right of first pic Not as a stand out grain as some wood types , like oak Hold on I'll get a good close up: Better ?
It's bleeding because you cut it! I think all trees in colder winter climates do this to remove excess moisture for winter so they don't snap or blow open from freezing. That's one reason why I like to cut trees in winter. Whether it's forced out by the cold, or the cells of the tree do it, I've seen enough evidence that trees have less moisture content in winter.
I was felling a large oak this august and was finishing the wedge cut when it began to gush and bubble out of the cut, I've seen maple stumps pump water out for a few hours, but hadn't seen a tree gush like this. I actually thought I had hit a water line for a second. Then I figured that it would take some pressure to get water up five stories to the crown
